GAINESVILLE, Ga. – Lasers, sugar and Kool-Aid oh my! As Avian Influenza (AI) surges through the country, producers are looking to bird deterrents to aid in the reduction of infection.
Bird Control Group boasts effective and humane bird control, with the use of lasers. As fictional as this might sound, the AVIX autonomic laser bird deterrent has been around for more than a decade now helping producers of not only poultry but also row crop and dairy farmers.
How does it all work? Well, for us humans it’s just a green laser, however for wild birds it is a predator and is steered clear of. The laser has 16 different pattern projections, allowing a variety of options for all times of the day and night.
Craig Duhr, an American sales representative for the product, explained how the company was founded in 2012 in the Netherlands, and came to the United States in 2015.
“Around 2021-2022 when Avian Flu was starting to pop-up across the country, a company reached out to us to see if this system could work as another layer of biosecurity at a poultry farm,” Duhr said, “within 30 days, we had put up 25 more systems around the property.”
Bird Control Group notes that the AVIX laser bird deterrent system helps to reduce 70 to 90 percent of pest-birds. However, success is difficult to measure.
“It’s hard to measure success, you know? Does it mean if AI [avian influenza] doesn’t hit your farm is the system doing a good job, or are you just lucky?” Duhr added.
While there may be other systems out there, none quite measure up to Bird Control Group’s. Duhr mentioned how unlike other companies, Bird Control Group makes sure to align their products with FAA Public Law 112-95, “FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012”, which states that it is federal crime to aim/point a laser at an aircraft.
On their website, Bird Control Group notes, “Our new safety features make sure that your AVIX Autonomic bird repellent always operates safely, without harming people.”
A complete system can cost around $15,000 to $17,000, with prices varying depending on several factors including: location (the west coast is more expensive than the east coast), traveling costs and installment fees from dealers.
However, if you’re looking for a more cost-effective solution you can try a few items you can find in your pantry. According to an article published by Oregon State University Extension, grape Kool-Aid contains methyl anthranilate, which is the same ingredient found in commercial bird deterrent sprays. Or try a sugar-water mixture, as birds are unable to digest sucrose.
These varying methods can be used to help deter wild birds from co-mingling with both poultry houses and dairy herds. To learn more about non-lethal bird deterrents, visit Bird Control Group at https://birdcontrolgroup.com/ or your local Cooperative Extension Service.
